Chanuka*Chanukah*Chanukkah*Channukah*Hanukah*Hannukah*Hanukkah*Hanuka*Hanukka*Hanaka*Haneka*Hanika*Khanukkah*Khanike*Khanuke*Khanuka*Jánuca*--However you spell it, that’s what this album is about!

Most people, if you ask them to name a Chanukah song, will tell you “I Have a Little Dreidel”, and not be able to go any further. Some will tell you the Hebrew songs “Mi Yemalel” or “Maoz Tsur”. On this recording you will find the finest Yiddish Chanukah songs I could find, including one from the earliest Yidish songbook published with melodies, from 1727, up to those written through the end of the 20th century. Also present are the original Yiddish versions of the abovementioned dreydl song and “Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah”. These may be the only tunes that are familiar to you, but don’t let that stop you listening. Some of you may remember these songs from when you went to Yiddish school, but I think most of you won’t know them at all. These are marvelous songs which deserve to be heard and not forgotten in a dusty book, moldering on a neglected shelf somewhere.

The musicians and I have shined up these buried treasures, and I have to tell you, I cannot sit still while listening to these tunes! For this reason, I have included instructions for dancing traditional old world Jewish dances that go with particular tunes in the 28-page booklet included with the CD. There are also brief biographies of the authors and composers, as well as a bit of interesting information about each song. I have also included illustrations that once graced the pages of old Yiddish school books for your enjoyment. As usual, you will find complete transliterations in Roman characters as well as the translations so you can sing along and learn some Yiddish at the same time!

The musicians on this album are some of the finest in the world playing in this traditional eastern European Jewish style. I hope you enjoy listening to this recording as much as I enjoyed making it. I would be happy to hear from you, so email me if you like.

$15.00